Forest Gate Inn in Epping Forest

Friendly, good food and great location

I love this pub and used to be a regular, now I live in Sussex and we have a lot of excellent pubs in Sussex. But it is always a treat when visiting family in Epping to make time to visit this gem of a pub. It's not fancy but it's a good, honest pub with lovely staff, great food and great beer. Definitely worth a visit after a walk through the forest

Lovely friendly staff, great food and great beer. Definitely worth a visit.

Good beer, good food, good atmosphere.

Great little pub, food and atmosphere.

Great atmosphere,food and service. Can get very busy. A good selection of books to buy, and local free range eggs. They do an absolutely superb Onion soup- better than many French restaurants.

Nice and peaceful location for a Sunday afternoon chat & drink.

Lovely pub. Fantastic staff and great atmosphere.

I will definitely recommend to friends and family to visit. No complaints at all.

Cute country pub, great post dog walk and nice crowd

Proper old style British Pub. Good traditional pub grub and friendly staff.

Great pub on the edge of Epping, in the forest. Dog friendly and great burgers! Thank you.

Lovely country pub,great kitchen Proper pub grub

Lovely old pub with great garden, nice crowd too.

We haven't tried the food yet but it is a lovely place for a pitch stop while walking at Epping forest

Good pints. Nice seating outdoors.

Fantastic pub! Great place for a quiet pint on your own or with friends and family.

The staff were friendly and helpful. We were there for a wake in memorial of my mother. Buffet provided that also catered fir vegans and those with other food preferences. Great selection. We had a side room, so set away from main pub. It was a bit small, but worked out alright and if the weather had been better we could have acceded outside seating. All in all thoroughly recommend

Lovely country pub and staff, but it's a bit out of the way for me to say it's a local. Serve Adnams Ales and as I'm quite partial to their Dry Hopped lager I tend to go there more often than otherwise I might. Unfortunately the last few times I've been in they've not had the dry hopped lager on. Was in there on Thursday and they said it had been taken off. When I asked whether it was because of sales, they said no and that it was quite popular. I've certainly seen it been poured on a regular basis for others when I've been in there. Strange decision.

This was my first visit here with a friend for lunch. Lovely staff. Good beer. Great grub. I’m looking forward to my next visit when I shall introduce other friends. There are plenty of tables and seats outside. I bet it’s great fun in summer.

We are regular walkers along the circular Oak Trail Walk from Theydon Bois and the Forest Gate Inn has always been our favourite place to stop for something to eat and drink. The food is usually very good and reasonably priced. However, yesterday's experience was very disappointing. We both ordered filled baguettes and drinks. Sadly, the food was not up to the usual standard. The baguettes were either not properly baked or left over from the previous day. The fillings one with: tuna mayo and sweetcorn, and the other of sausage and onions just weren't up to the usual standard either. Neither of us finished our food and left feeling very under-whelmed. It also appears that there has been a considerable price increase on both food and drink since our last visit, which just made us feel that bit more disappointed. Not sure if it was different staff or perhaps just a bad day for the kitchen but it would be a great pity if the standards dropped permanently at this venue.

Basic pub food menu. Friendly and helpful service.

Popped in here after walking through Epping Forest on a chilly day. Plenty of tables outside and had a burger and the wife had a baked potato. Plain menu and was quite tasty, with 'proper' thick chips.

Nice dog friendly forest pub with good food and pleasant outdoor seating

Very well located. On the edge of Epping Forest.

A long time since I came here regularly with my family as a kid. Still hasn't changed and still serve Adnam's! So had a broadside for old times sake. Great pub and wonder if they still do the cheese burger baguette 😳

Turkey broth is excellent and my wife and daughter recommend the French onion soup. Excellent substantial pub grub and the best chips ever says my 5 year old grand daughter.

Lovely pub. Very friendly staff, good atmosphere.

Beer was excellent and would definitely recommend the ham egg and chips

Hadn’t been in here for years - my loss! Friendly welcome, great.atmosphere and enjoyable lunch - looking forward to going back.

Lovely pub with great beer selection and food. Only con is the kitchen shutting too early. Dog friendly is a massive pro!! Nicest pub in epping

Great little pub old fashioned service just like the old days

Cosy warm pub with efficient service after a long walk through the bronzed Autumn leaves in the Epping Forest. Welles allowed!!

The Forest Gate Inn never disappoints, I used to frequent it regularly. This was however the first visit back in over 13 years since I moved away, but I am happy to say nothing much has changed. It is still every bit as charming and quaint as I remembered it. Dog friendly, roaring fire, no slot machines, and a wall full of gorgeous books. They take card now and there is parking right outside. Very very perfect, quite possibly my favourite pub ever, and it was lovely to share a pint there with my Dad who is an avid walker and loves it too.

One of the last real pubs left, a proper pub with real beer and great food, sadly not close enough to be my local

My friend and I came here after our 2 hour walk,we was also aloud to park here as yes we was coming back and we did eat.the food was lovely and just what we needed after that walk.plus dog's are welcome so it's a must for anyone who loves to take there dogs out and have a nice pub lunch after. Good prices too.

Lovely dog friendly pub with lovely outside area which tends to get a good amount of sunshine all day. This pub is also adjacent Epping Forest, so if you're up for a walk with a great pub pit stop, this is a great one for you! Food is also lovely - my fav is the goat cheese salad - absolutely yum!

Beautiful old pub, great on a sunny day, the garden has all day sun & come winter a cosy pint around the fire is perfect , I’d recommend the cheese and biscuits to share goes down very well with a pint. Great choice of real ales.

Good beers and pub that's original this place hasn't changed in a years and that's how I like it. Have a nice log fire on winter and good soups

Great pub we use it as much as we can. Great staff, good food, lovely beer.

Very friendly. Bitburger on tap, what's not to like.

Great place. A real pub. Could do more with the garden, but times have been tough.

Friendly vibe, staff and locals.

Picked a spot for lunch on a Saturday. Staff are friendly, food menu is solid pub grub and it’s pet friendly. Ticks a lot of boxes. Parking is a bit of a pain but it’s definitely a good option if in the area.

My local ! And I love it. Totally recommend.

Always nice beer and food, great table service keep it up..

Alas missed out on food, but it remains a friendly local pub.

Sat outside in the sun after a great walk through the woods over the road. Limited parking but was ok. Friendly staff were helpful when it came to navigating the online menu. Food was good and timely, even an option for a sausage for the dog!

Not bad , plenty of seating , limited pub menu for now , burger and ploughman's kind of thing , staff friendly enough

Contact less ordering and fast service even at busy times.

Slightly shabby outside. Photographs of this public house are a little bit misleading as there is no available car park the car park is for the restaurant next door.Food was nice . I found the chips a little greasy and the burger a bit dry. Standard. Service was very good and the inside of the pub looks very quaint.

Nice location, decent pub,and staff, good beers, but no Sunday roast, and some of the food on the menu is overpriced, ham eggs and chips £11.😳

Lovely service from waiting staff

I don't think people know what good food is anymore because this was far from five stars from the food to the service was dreadful attitude from one of the waitresses the food was appalling and for the price of it I definitely will not be coming back

Nice and friendly and quite safe during the present restrictions

Lots of outside tables (covid regulations) many covered. Good service. The best chips I've ever had. Not an extensive menue but choices in a lot of areas (even for vegetarians).

Nice friendly pub good service 👍👍👍👍

Lovely people , friendly ,helpful and very polite nice food and lovely pints really happy with the experience.

Fantastic idea from Haywards-coffee on the green.just whats needed after a long,muddy walk.great cakes.

Beautiful latte 🤩🥰 and perfect spot after a run in the forest xx

Brilliant and very hospitable really enjoyed this place

Went in yesterday for first time. Reasonable prices, tasty food, friendly staff, nice setting including fire. We will be back. Well done.

Very different from your average pub

Very good big marquees up takes dogs and kids

Great pub. Lovely atmosphere. Lovely staff. Fab food 👍👍

Super cosy and inviting traditional pub with good selection of real ales. Perfect end for an Epping forest walk.

Old world pub great beer...Nice base for walk in the forest

Good food, friendly service and a nice beer selection.

Very welcoming and best pint of Adnams I've had for a long time.

Lovely pint. Lovely location Very friendly.

Excellent location and lots to eat and drink

Polite and friendly nice locals especially a few of the dog owners would recommend highly. Been back several times now

The opening hrs are very disappointing as closes at 8.30pm on wkdays, but 9.30pm Fri and Sat eve. So more of an early eve or starter pub if exploring venues in Epping.

Well organised for safe drinking of excellent beers!

Plenty of outside seating corvoneaviras systems works well. Always good pint and atmosphere

Great atmosphere when we went one friday evening about 9pm. Place was packed. Top range of ales and other drinks. O know the food is great. Just hope they can open soon again

I love this place. I live in France where no pubs exist, but if there were one like this I would be there all the time. It's completely unpretentious and not fancy, but the beer is good, the Guiness always perfectly poured, and the pub food simple but good. I love the paperbacks and sweetiies on sale for a local charity, the eggs and cucumbers on sale on the bar in the summer and the banter at the bar. Toasted sandwiches and burgers are good, had better balked potatoes, but that's not really the point!

Beautiful chicken and bacon salad, washed down with a pint of Ridley's Rite. Wife had a delicious turkey broth. Just a light lunch but well worth the visit!

Our local.. A treasure. Food isn't too wonderful but the atmosphere and clientele more than make up for it

Stop in for a pint on your Epping Forest walk, nice dog friendly pub

Great pub but not as much effort put into the Christmas greenery decorations this year as in past which was reason for visiting and NO Tally Ho beer.:0( spoiling my Christmas tradition of the last 30 years.

Friendly team Good beer Great food

Lovely cosy pub with great grub

Nice pub to meet and have drinks. Also lovely place to eat .

Great original country pub, just like it was 40 years ago - except the food is a lot better!

Popped in for a quick drink before visiting Haywards for lunch and felt like stepping into someones home it was so welcoming. Great prices and beautiful classic British pub atmosphere.

Great walkers country pub. Food amazing and service very good. A must for all and dog friendly, even if they are a bit messy.

Lovely well decorated cozy pub. Food excellent, staff brilliant and very helpful. Very well thought out menu, plenty of parking and plenty of seating inside, side room for larger groups. Lots of outside tables for the Summer.

A true free house with great beer.

What a gem, booked the b&b by chance for an evening event. B&B superb, the pub next door, brilliant, friendly and good food....highly recommend

Great pub,sausage and mash a bit dear,keep away from right hand side of bar strange bloke by the name of bill,keeps on about his mother in-law,

Have been coming here on and off for a number of years now. Always friendly, nice food - I absolutely love their veggie burgers on barbecue days. Nice place to take the dogs. My only crib is the opening hours which are still the "old" ones (i.e. opens at midday and closes at 3:00 until 6:00) otherwise I love the place.

Nice local pub with large outdoor seating area

Great little pub with good beer selection and quality food

Nice, welcoming pub with friendly owners. Didn't try the pub food as we ate at their excellent 3 rosette restaurant next door.

Now a 15 min walk from our house we are very lucky! Attentive bar staff and great food (winning with the chips!) great pub garden and great location, you can’t ask for anything else. They even sell eggs and honey!

This is one of our local pubs in Epping we recently discovered. Keep coming back because it’s great food, quick service at the bar (best service we’ve had in ages every time) and a nice garden to sit in! Don’t let the negative comments stop you from trying it, Beautiful English pub!

Popped in for drinks only .lovely character pub quite cosy pub we like that.the staff were great very friendly and the locals were really chatty nice location and outside seating

I don’t usually do reviews but feel this needs a mention as it’s not a difficult thing to do to make a nice bit of salad. The salad was brown, I managed to eat a couple of cherry tomatoes from it, the lasagna was an obvious defrost & microwave heat & would have had to be the worst meal I have eaten on my 6 week holiday here. Both my husband & myself managed to eat some of the lasagna as we were both hungry but it was pretty revolting & I’m feeling sick in my stomach. Don’t usually do reviews but this annoys the hell out of me as it’s the last meal before we fly home.

Beautiful surroundings, exquisite atmosphere